Ferris To Help Celebrate "Respect Weekend"

Sep 03, 2009

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football program
will take part in a nationwide effort to promote sportsmanship with
a special ceremonial pregame handshake prior to this Saturday
evening's (Sept. 5) contest against Ashland at Top Taggart
Field.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the NCAA are
partnering on the national sportsmanship initiative called "RESPECT
Weekend," which is set to begin with the Sept. 3-7 weekend of the
college football season.

The AFCA and NCAA are encouraging all college football teams to
meet at midfield before the kickoff of each game for a pregame
handshake. The two head coaches and the two directors of athletics
(or a representative of the athletics department) are to lead the
sportsmanship gesture.

FSU head coach Jeff Pierce and Ashland head coach
Lee Owens will highlight the pregame handshake along with FSU
Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic and AU Athletics
Director Bill Goldring in addition to players and staff from both
instiutions prior to the coin toss.

"This is a symbolic initiative that says to the football world,
our fans, our students, our student-athletes and athletics
departments that sportsmanship is a vital part of the successful
football programs we have in this country," said AFCA Executive
Director Grant Teaff. "We wanted to show sportsmanship in a clear
way."

The AFCA code of conduct already calls for coaches to shake
hands before and after each game. This initiative is being
conducted to help reinforce that philosophy.

"We think it is important for coaches to shake hands after the
game win or lose to show true sportsmanship and respect," Teaff
said. "This is a great game that is at its pinnacle. We want to
make sure we're teaching the right thing to our student-athletes,
the student bodies and the youngsters out there watching the game."

All NCAA institutions have been encouraged to participate.
The initiative stems from a two-year NCAA research study of
student-athletes, coaches, conference commissioners, administrators
and fans that indicated fan behavior was the most pressing matter
to be addressed at college sporting events.

"We're proud Division II values the concept of respect for
opponents and this special pregame exchange will send a strong
message to everyone about the significance of this idea," said FSU
Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic.

Kickoff for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(GLIAC) opener between the Bulldogs and Eagles is set for 7 p.m.
(EDT). Tickets will be sold at the game starting two hours
prior to kickoff.